Zhou Yining’s filming wrapped in early July. When she returned to B City, she found that Lu Xiao was there as well.

Lu Xiao’s wife was from B City, so they had come back to visit relatives, bringing their daughter, Ximi, along. Lu Xiao’s daughter had just turned one. She could only say “Baba” and “Mama” and couldn’t walk yet. The little princess looked adorable, and Lu Xiao was beaming all day long. At this moment, he was teasing Ji Dongyang. “Envious? My daughter is cute and adorable.”

Ji Dongyang teased little Ximi in his arms and said indifferently, “I’m not envious. In the future, when your daughter gets married, you’ll probably be the one crying.”

This poked right at Lu Xiao’s sore spot, making him jump in anger. “My daughter isn’t getting married!”

Ji Dongyang said calmly, “Oh. Maybe?”

Lu Xiao glared at him. Don’t let Ji Dongyang’s calm demeanor fool you; if he really wanted to annoy someone, he always stomped right on their sore spot.

Zhou Yining went over to tease little Ximi as well. The little girl had huge eyes, cute as a doll. Lu Xiao said, “Hold her for a bit. Dongyang and I have something to discuss later.”

Zhou Yining smiled, took Ximi into her arms, and sat on the sofa.

Zhengzheng followed, staring at the little girl. “Mama, she’s so small.”

Zhou Yining laughed. “You were small when you were a baby too.”

Zhengzheng: “I’m all grown up now.”

Ji Dongyang glanced at him. “You are still very far from being grown up.”

Zhengzheng looked at his own small hands and feet, then at his height which only reached his father’s thigh, and nodded silently. “Alright.”

Little Ximi sucked on her small finger, blinking her eyes. Her eyelashes were like little fans. Zhou Yining couldn’t help but kiss the little girl. “Hey, Lu Xiao, let your daughter be a child bride for my son. Leave her at our house, and Ji Dongyang and I will raise her for you.”

Lu Xiao: “…”

Just a moment ago, Ji Dongyang was stating the fact that his daughter would get married, and now someone was already eyeing her.

There was no way he would agree! Not even for the child of the Best Actor and Best Actress!

Zhengzheng used both hands and feet to climb onto the sofa. Leaning against his mother, he asked innocently, “Mama, what is a child bride?”

Zhou Yining looked at her son. Hmm… how to explain this?

She looked at Ji Dongyang for help.

Ji Dongyang beckoned to his son. The little guy immediately climbed off the sofa, put on his small slippers, and ran over. “Papa.”

Ji Dongyang took an apple from the bar counter and handed it to him. “Go wash an apple for Mama.”

Zhengzheng tilted his small head and took the apple. “Okay.”

The little guy hugged the apple and walked into the kitchen. There was a small sink in the kitchen that Ji Dongyang had specially installed later on. It was just the right height for little Zhengzheng. His small hands washed the apple earnestly. After a while, he came out hugging the apple and handed it to Zhou Yining. “Mama, here.”

Zhou Yining took the apple and kissed his small cheek. “Thank you, baby.”

After being distracted by his father, little Zhengzheng had already forgotten to ask what a child bride was.

Ji Dongyang went to the study with Lu Xiao to discuss matters.

Little Ximi’s round eyes stared at the apple in Zhou Yining’s hand. Zhou Yining placed Ximi on the sofa and said to Zhengzheng, “Watch your little sister. Don’t let her fall off.”

Zhengzheng nodded like a little adult. “Okay.”

Zhou Yining went to get a fruit knife to peel and slice the apple.

When she came back, she saw Ximi holding onto Zhengzheng and gnawing on him. The little girl had crawled to the edge of the sofa, and Zhengzheng was blocking the edge. He seemed to want to break free but didn’t dare use force, so Ximi just held his head and chewed on his cheek.

Zhou Yining: “…”

She hurriedly walked over to separate the two children. Looking at her son’s cheek, she saw two small teeth marks. It was a bit red and covered in saliva. Her heart ached a little as she wiped it clean for him. “Does it hurt?”

Zhengzheng frowned, looking more and more like Ji Dongyang.

He shook his head, his milky voice loud and clear. “It doesn’t hurt much.”

The culprit, little Ximi, was picked up by Zhou Yining and placed on her lap. Zhou Yining gave her a slice of apple to hold. The little girl immediately smiled and put the apple in her mouth, grinding and biting it with her small teeth.

Zhou Yining held Ximi and took Zhengzheng to wash his face. Fortunately, Ximi hadn’t bitten down hard. The redness faded after a while, and the teeth marks mostly disappeared.

However, Ximi seemed to love biting him specifically.

Before long, Zhengzheng didn’t want to pay attention to the little girl anymore.

He ran to the other side to play by himself.

But little Ximi couldn’t stand being lonely. She could only walk a few steps, but she could crawl! Scritch, scritch, scritch. She crawled very fast on the carpet, reaching Zhengzheng. She sat down on her bottom, pulled at Zhengzheng’s hand, and babbled, “Y%#…”

Zhengzheng frowned at Ximi, then looked at his mother.

Zhou Yining laughed. “Ximi wants to play with you. Play with her for a while.”

She really was a little girl who couldn’t stand loneliness.

Zhengzheng reluctantly agreed to play with Ximi. After all, Uncle Lu Xiao was very nice to him, so he would play with her for a bit.

Ximi was still teething. She loved to bite people and gnaw on things. One moment she was gnawing on his toys, the next she was gnawing on the TV remote, or else she wanted to gnaw on Zhengzheng. Her mouth was never idle. She was a small, soft little girl, so Zhengzheng didn’t dare push her away.

In the time it took Zhou Yining to cook noodles in the kitchen, Zhengzheng was bitten several times.

Zhengzheng had never been one to cry since he was small. Even when bitten, he didn’t scream, simply enduring it.

When Zhou Yining came out carrying two small bowls of noodles, she saw Ximi gnawing on Zhengzheng’s small arm again.

“…”

Was Lu Xiao’s daughter part puppy?

Zhou Yining looked at Zhengzheng’s small arm. “Does it hurt?”

Zhengzheng held his breath and shook his head, refusing to admit it. “No.”

Zhou Yining glanced at him. This closet-romantic personality was just like Ji Dongyang.

This wasn’t very good…

After feeding the two children noodles, Ji Dongyang and Lu Xiao came out of the study. Zhou Yining looked at Lu Xiao. “Your daughter loves to bite people.”

Lu Xiao laughed upon hearing this. “You got bitten?”

He exposed his own arm. “Look, these are all from my Ximi.”

Zhou Yining was speechless. What is there to be proud of?

Lu Xiao picked up Ximi and kissed her cheek vigorously. Perhaps his stubble was prickly, because Ximi pushed his face away in disgust, turning her small face aside.

Lu Xiao laughed even happier, then asked, “Where is your family’s milk powder?”

He took Ximi’s bottle out of his bag. He had forgotten to bring milk powder when leaving the house.

Zhou Yining asked, “What milk powder does Ximi drink? Can she drink Zhengzheng’s?”

Lu Xiao: “Of course she can. Zhengzheng’s milk powder was brought back from Holland by me.”

Zhou Yining was surprised. “You brought it?”

She looked at Ji Dongyang. Ji Dongyang had always been in charge of the milk powder. She had never asked where he bought it, assuming he had asked A Ming to buy it.

Speaking of this, Lu Xiao had plenty to complain about. “When Zhengzheng was just a few months old, I went to Holland on a business trip and brought back seven or eight cans of milk powder. I got spot-checked by customs and was almost treated as a daigou [personal shopper]. Me, a dignified CEO! My luggage was rummaged through, I lost so much face.”

Zhou Yining: “…”

Lu Xiao added, “You can buy milk powder anywhere, but he insisted I bring it.”

Zhou Yining looked at Ji Dongyang. The man remained calm and composed. So he really did treat Lu Xiao as a personal shopper?

To apologize, Zhou Yining went to mix formula for Ximi.

After testing the temperature, she handed it to the little girl. Ximi hugged the bottle and sucked hard. Gulp, gulp.

After a few mouthfuls, Ximi started biting the nipple of the bottle. Her small teeth gnawed, and her small hands pulled at the bottle forcefully.

It looked… quite violent.

Zhengzheng stared at Ximi for a while, thinking to himself: It’s a good thing Mama didn’t give birth to a little sister. So troublesome, and loves to bite people.

Around 4:00 PM, Lu Xiao took his daughter home. Before leaving, Ximi held onto Zhengzheng’s clothes, looking extremely reluctant to part. She opened her small mouth and wailed loudly.

Lu Xiao hardened his heart and carried his daughter away in a hurry.

Zhengzheng ran to the study to find his father, leaning on his leg.

Ji Dongyang picked his son up. Zhengzheng looked at him seriously. “Papa, will our family have a little sister?”

Ji Dongyang paused. “No.”

Zhengzheng nodded his little head, looking relieved. “Then I’m reassured.”

Ji Dongyang raised an eyebrow. “What are you reassured about?”

Zhengzheng said solemnly, “Little sisters bite people. I don’t like it.”

Ji Dongyang looked at him, wanting to say you bit people plenty of times when you were smaller too.

But this was fine. It was better than him chasing after them asking for a little sister.

He and Zhou Yining really only wanted one child. Zhou Yining was afraid she couldn’t take good care of two children. A child was a huge responsibility to her. She was always somewhat cautious with the child, constantly worried that if she didn’t care for him well enough, it would lead to some defect.

From pregnancy until now, over three years, she had sacrificed a lot. Getting pregnant and having a child during the rising period of her career had a huge impact. She hadn’t rushed back to work after giving birth either. Her career had only just picked up again this year; he didn’t want her to stagnate for another three years for a child.

Ji Dongyang smiled. “Then you can rest easy.”

That night, Ji Dongyang took his son for a bath.

Little Zhengzheng poked his father’s abdominal muscles with his soft white finger. “Papa, why is it all lumpy here?”

Ji Dongyang glanced down. “Because I am your father.”

Little Zhengzheng touched his own soft little belly. “Mama likes my little tummy. It’s soft.”

Usually, when Mama coaxed him to sleep, she would either stroke his head or his little tummy.

Ji Dongyang laughed.

Zhou Yining liked abdominal muscles.

In September, Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining sent Zhengzheng to kindergarten. Zhengzheng was ready early, sitting on the sofa waiting for his mother.

Mama had to put on makeup and wear beautiful clothes, so she was a bit slow.

Fortunately, Papa was waiting with him.

When Zhou Yining came out of the bedroom, she saw the father and son sitting on the sofa. Ji Dongyang leaned back against the sofa, legs crossed, lazily flipping through a book. Zhengzheng sat upright, carrying his small backpack. His socks were on, just waiting to put on shoes and leave.

Seeing her come out, he immediately slid off the sofa and pulled at his father. “Papa, Mama is ready.”

Ji Dongyang put down the book and looked at Zhou Yining. She was wearing a lake-blue long dress, her long hair scattered over her shoulders. She looked lively and beautiful, with an indescribable charm.

Very beautiful.

He put down the book, stood up, and patted the back of his son’s head. “Let’s go.”

Zhou Yining sat in the back seat with Zhengzheng. She asked, “Zhengzheng, are you nervous?”

Zhengzheng shook his head. “Not nervous.”

It was just going to school, right? Why be nervous?

Zhou Yining asked again, “Then do you remember what Papa and Mama said last night?”

Zhengzheng nodded. “I remember. No arguing, no fighting.”

Zhou Yining felt relieved. Celebrity children would definitely receive a bit more attention at school, and teachers would pay more attention to them too. Paparazzi often lurked at the kindergarten entrance; any small issue would be magnified.

Arriving at the kindergarten, Ji Dongyang picked up his son, and Zhou Yining walked beside him.

This was a private kindergarten. The parents were either rich or noble. But Ji Dongyang was low-profile and upright. Aside from his parents’ drug use, there was nothing about him to criticize. When parents saw him, they couldn’t help but look sideways.

Moreover, Zhou Yining was standing beside him. It was everyone’s first time seeing Zhengzheng’s face clearly.

Truly… he didn’t let down his parents’ looks. Growing up like this, the little girls in kindergarten would have quite the competition.

Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining walked Zhengzheng to his classroom. Kids in the class were crying and making noise. Some parents were entangled by their children and couldn’t get away, while teachers tried their best to coax them.

Ji Dongyang looked at his silent son. “Will you cry after Mama and I leave?”

Zhengzheng thought for a moment and shook his head. “I won’t cry.”

Ji Dongyang nodded and kissed his cheek. Zhou Yining also came over to kiss him and rub his little head. “Mama will come to pick you up tonight.”

Zhengzheng: “What about Papa?”

Ji Dongyang: “Papa has work tonight.”

Zhengzheng’s small shoulders slumped. “Alright. Then Papa, come home early.”

Ji Dongyang smiled and put the little guy down. The teacher, who was busy dealing with other children, finally saw Ji Dongyang and Zhou Yining standing at the back door. She screamed, “Ah, Dong-ge!”

“And Yining too!”

“That’s Little Dong-ge…”

“He’s so good-looking!”

A young female teacher quickly came over, staring at Ji Dongyang. Blushing slightly, she squatted down and touched Zhengzheng’s head. “Little Dong-ge…”

Zhengzheng: “…My name is Ji Hengyuan.”

“Oh, oh. Little Hengyuan, come with me.”

Ji Dongyang smiled. “Sorry to trouble you.”

The young teacher shook her head hurriedly. “No trouble at all.”

She was incredibly excited inside. She hadn’t expected Dong-ge’s son to be in her class. In the future, she would be able to see Dong-ge and Yining often. She was a fan of theirs!

Zhou Yining bent down and touched Zhengzheng’s small cheek. “Papa and I are going now.”

Zhengzheng nodded. “Bye-bye Papa, bye-bye Mama.”

Ji Dongyang wrapped his arm around Zhou Yining and left. Zhou Yining looked back worriedly. “Do you think Zhengzheng really won’t cry?”

Ji Dongyang: “He won’t. That kid doesn’t like to cry.”

Zhou Yining pursed her lips and smiled. “Ji Dongyang, our son is in kindergarten.”

Ji Dongyang curved his lips. “Yes.”

“In a few more years, we’ll send him to primary school. Then a few years later, middle school…”

“Mm,” he said in a low voice, his hand tightening on her waist.

Zhou Yining narrowed her eyes in a smile, tilting her head to look at Ji Dongyang. His profile was resolute and handsome, a little mesmerizing. She turned her head and glanced up at the rising sun. Bright and dazzling.

Just like him.

Weibo Extra: Little Flower Vase Spirit

On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Qin Sen was giving out red envelopes to the younger generation of the Qin family. It was only during the first Spring Festival after her marriage that Jing Xin realized just how many juniors were in their family.

Little Flower Vase looked at the brothers and sisters lined up in a row. She crawled onto her father’s lap. “Papa, An’an wants a red envelope too.”

Qin Sen looked down at her, pointed a finger, and said, “Go line up at the back.”

Little Flower Vase ran scritch-scratch to line up, standing at the very end, the smallest one there.

After a while, the children playing in the yard came back and joined the line for red envelopes.

Little Flower Vase received a red envelope with satisfaction, then ran to the very back to line up again.

Someone teased her. “Didn’t you already get a red envelope? Why are you lining up again? Everyone gets one.”

Little Flower Vase spoke in a serious, milky voice. “I’m lining up for Mama.”

Everyone was amused by her.

Someone said, “Mama is an adult. Adults generally don’t get red envelopes.”

Little Flower Vase tilted her head and thought. “But Mama has a little brother in her tummy. I’ll take it for little brother.”

This Little Flower Vase Spirit!

Qin Sen looked at Little Flower Vase, who had reached the front again, and rubbed her little head. “Did Mama ask you to help?”

Little Flower Vase shook her head and extended her small hand to him. “Papa, is there more?”

He teased her. “No more.”

Little Flower Vase lowered her head in disappointment. “Oh…”

Qin Sen curled his lips and patted her head. “Go get Papa’s coat.”

Little Flower Vase ran to hug her father’s coat. The coat was long and heavy. She hugged it, huffing and puffing, and placed it on her father’s lap, leaning on it. “Papa, here.”

Qin Sen took out his wallet from the pocket and stuffed it into her arms. “Alright, give this to Mama.”

Little Flower Vase: “Why isn’t it a red envelope?”

Qin Sen laughed. “This is worth much more than a red envelope. Go give it to Mama.”

Jing Xin was in the kitchen learning to cook from the auntie. Little Flower Vase ran over. “Mama, here. Papa gave it to you.”

Jing Xin stared at the men’s wallet, somewhat confused. “Why give me the wallet?”

Little Flower Vase: “Papa said to give it to Mama.”

Jing Xin: “…”

The Little Flower Vase Spirit had been sent away by her father again.

NOTES

Tongyangxi (童养媳): Child bride; a girl adopted into a family to be a future wife for one of the sons.

Daigou (代购): A purchasing agent or personal shopper who buys goods overseas (often luxury items or baby formula) to resell or bring back to China to avoid taxes or fake goods.

Little Flower Vase (小花瓶): Jing Xin’s daughter. Jing Xin is the protagonist of the author’s other novel, The Flower Vase.

Translator’s Note: NYT here. This chapter gives us a delightful look at Zhengzheng growing up. He is stoic like his dad, but has a soft spot for his mom. The contrast with Lu Xiao’s daughter Ximi is hilarious. We also get a sweet cameo from the Qin family in the Weibo extra.

We are now officially moving into the side story for Wan Wei and Yang Xun.

• • The Couple: The “Gold Medal Agent” duo.

• • The Dynamic: Divorced, bickering, but still working together.

• • The Hook: Why did they divorce, and can they fix it?

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